Bunker breakout?

[mozilla]

After reading so many threads about our bunkers.....I want to know: What kind of special occasion does it take to break that awesome bottle of bourbon out of your bunker? And what is it?

Mine are: 1. Old Taylor 16yr (prohibition)

2. PVW 23 green glass

3. PVW 23 SB.com

As far as special enough occasion.....I have not found one yet.

[barturtle]

Well, I guess this would require a gathering of like-minded people with whom to share said prizes with...the Gazebo is a good time to do such things, or any other meetup that you can plan with fellow SBers. Also weddings/anniversaries/graduations(mine for instance!)

Some of those bottles may include (but are not limited to):

A.H.Hirsch 20

Stagg 2002

Complete set of Saz 18

Weller 19

VWFRR C bottling (or any of my Lburg VW bottlings-Twisted Spoke, etc)

[MikeK]

OK, I'm going to be totally contrary.

I don't consider anything in my bunker off limit or saved for a special occation. You might get hit by a bus tomorrow, so no sense putting it off. You'll just end up with your kids chucking it all in the trash. I like to have a bout 6-8 bottle sopen at any one time. One or two of them many would consider jewels. When I kill off a bottle I open another one. Current jewels in the bunker are there only because I haven't gotten to them yet, not because i am saving them for anything.

One exception I could see is if you bought a bottle of Birthday Bouron that matched your childs birth year and want to open it when they hit 21, get married, etc. Something like that is acceptable.

Also, if the bourbon is really special, you'll want to consider it in a quiet controlled environment. Not at some big event or party. So I wouldn't want to crack open that special bottle at a wedding for instance, that would be a waste. I'll crack open something really rare or special when I have the house to myself and can give it the attention and concentration it deserves. Once I've come to terms with the bottle I will then gladly offer pours to people I know will appreciate it. That's just with really crazy stuff though, most rarities/dusties are fair game to anyone at my house once opened.

Cheers,

[Gillman]

I agree but of course that's just me. I wonder what that Prohibition Taylor is like!

Gary

[mozilla]

The Taylor is being saved for my Dad and I to taste. I will report our findings. Whenever that is?

[nor02lei]

Well, I guess this would require a gathering of like-minded people with whom to share said prizes with...the Gazebo is a good time to do such things, or any other meetup that you can plan with fellow SBers. Also weddings/anniversaries/graduations(mine for instance!)

I do agree on this Timothy but I want to add a couple.

Christmas

Nice hot summer period

Dull cold dark winter period

Lonely home

Leif

[ggilbertva]

There are a number of bottles that will be opened on a couple of milestone events. I have a bottle of 1990 EWSB that will be shared with my son when he turns 21.

Also, as of tomorrow, I am walking away from a 21 year career supporting the Central Intelligence Agency and the National Counterterrorism Center.

At mid life, I am beginning a new career and have purchased a Franchise conducting a multi unit development over the next 6 years. As such, I have the following that will coincide with certain milestones related to this effort:

1972 Hallers County Fair BIB

PVW 23 year SB

ORVW 15 year

1952 Old Forester BIB

1965 Old Fitz BIB

I have a couple of others but those are the special ones.

[tsh3406]

Each time my brother makes it back from Iraq (USMC) is my special occasion. Bottles opened or to be opened include ER 101, WTRR 101, and a few Four Roses 40th's. Looking to add ORVW 15 and some trophy Turkeys to the list. Also have a bottle of EWSB for my son, barreled on his birthday, for his 21st.

Tim

[ILLfarmboy]

I don't have anything special in my bunker, mostly commonly available stuff. Somewhat less common; BTAC bottles from various years and a good sized stash of WT RR 101. Currently I have a few bottles of WT 12, all split label. One is about empty. The WT 12's are the only bottles I guard with jealousy. When the wife is gone for the evening 'scrapbooking' with the girls I will through a nice steak on the grill and break out the WT 12. I'll have a glass with the steak and one or perhaps two while waching TV or reading. Yeah, My life is kinda boring.

[gothbat]

Also, if the bourbon is really special, you'll want to consider it in a quiet controlled environment.... I'll crack open something really rare or special when I have the house to myself and can give it the attention and concentration it deserves. Once I've come to terms with the bottle I will then gladly offer pours to people I know will appreciate it.

Yep, that's me right there! I think that's the best way to enjoy bottles like that, most of the time anyway.

[TBoner]

I'll admit to having a hard time opening "treasures," but I have so many now, I need to start. My bunker is officially beyond out of control. That said, there are only a couple that I just plain won't open for quite a while:

WT Tribute (though depending on how American Spirit is, I may change my mind)

Old Forester BIB 1966-1971 (the oldest whiskey in my collection)

Willett's #1 (I was fortunate enough to get a bottle, but I've never dropped $100 for a whiskey, so this would be tough to replace...impossible, technically, but what I'm getting at is what else would even come close?)

I think if I have a kid, I might open one of the above, and there's a milestone birthday or two that would likely be worthy of breaking one out, but short of that, I think these bottles are all good enough in and of themselves to be the occasion for which they are opened.

[TNbourbon]

I'll admit to having a hard time opening "treasures,"...

I don't quite understand this -- why'd you buy them, then? (Yeah, I'm being a little provocatively snarky, but for a point.) Books are cheaper if you're just filling shelf space.

...there are only a couple that I just plain won't open for quite a while:

WT Tribute (though depending on how American Spirit is, I may change my mind)

Old Forester BIB 1966-1971 (the oldest whiskey in my collection)

Willett's #1 (I was fortunate enough to get a bottle, but I've never dropped $100 for a whiskey, so this would be tough to replace...impossible, technically, but what I'm getting at is what else would even come close?)...

So, you really don't want to salute Jimmy by DRINKING his Tribute, the Old Forester is a 'bunker queen', and you wasted $100 on a bottle of Willet's you don't want to drink?..

..I think if I have a kid, I might open one of the above, and there's a milestone birthday or two that would likely be worthy of breaking one out, but short of that, I think these bottles are all good enough in and of themselves to be the occasion for which they are opened.

Your newborn won't realize for quite a few years whether or not you toasted his/her arrival; whiskey doesn't go bad, so it'll last till those 'milestone' birthdays'; and if they're really that good, how would you know, and why would you refrain?

In short: Drink it, man, drink it! Simply put, I won't own a bottle I wouldn't open. (Ask Mike -- aka, Scratchline -- he saw all the open bottles here.)

[mozilla]

I think that Tboners point and mine as well is, we will drink them, just not right now. I probably have 35-40 bottles open right now. That is why some bottles are reserved for special occasions.

The big point to buying them is that they won't be there in the near future. Buy now...enjoy at my own pace. Don't buy now....never get the oportunity.

[T47]

I think if a buddy wanted to try any of my bottles I would let them...with the exception of 1.

I purchased a bottle of PVW 20 for my B-day in Feb of 2006. That's the most I have ever spent on one bottle, and I was saving it for who knows what. A guy where I work died and when I got back from the funeral I guess I kind of felt like MikeK said...it could be any of us any time, and I ought to enjoy what I have. So I raised a glass of PVW 20 to Joselito Barber. So that started a little tribute I guess. At work when someone is killed in the line of duy we wear black bands on our badges until the funeral. I have my black band on my PVW 20, and I pour a drink every time the band goes back on to the bottle. I only have had 4 drinks (Joselito Barber, Eddie Thomas, Steve Cox, and Michael Estes) so maybe it will last a while. I have 15 years to go until I retire, maybe it will last!

But the rest of my bottles...They are just too fun to open and taste.

:toast:

[luv2hunt]

we will drink them, just not right now.

:grin::grin:I keep mine on display in a china cabinet!! :shocked::shocked:I wholeheartedly agree with your sentiment :cool::cool:

[mozilla]

(Joselito Barber, Eddie Thomas, Steve Cox, and Michael Estes)

:toast:

I raise a glass of Antique Bourbon from Owensboro 1982 to your co-workers taken from you and their families. Here's to you Fella's!

[heatmiser]

I have quite a few open bottles but many that remain closed and will do so until I am ready to open them. Just because I bought them doesn't mean I have to open them now. Different strokes for different folks. Besides, my opinion is that books don't look as good on shelves as fine spirits... :grin:

[gblick]

Two that I have that I'm not ready to open yet are PVW20 and Old Fitz BIB ( distilled Spring of 1970 & bottled Fall of 1976). There are also some others, but those are the main ones. Gives me something to look forward to, and I'm in no hurry.

[Gillman]

I've only got one not opened, and the only reason is I've promised it to Cliff in a trade.

But I can understand those who collect to open later, or even not at all. Personal choice.

As I said earlier some people have the collecting bug and the value (even just to them) is enhanced if the item is sealed.

Gary

[CrispyCritter]

As my British-born brother-in-law is firmly in the Scotch camp, the Ardbeg 1977 tends to come out when he shows up at my place. Once that's gone, the Campbeltown Loch 25 will get opened.

As for the special American pours, they get opened when I feel like having a treat.

[ACDetroit]

When I found out we were having our second child. I invited some buddies over and we cracked into one of my bottles of the 18yr. old Distillers Masterpiece. It really is too good to save. If I have a bad week at work it always cheers me up!

I currently have about 30 bottles open and maybe another 30+ not! As one goes down a new one gets opened, but if someone came over and said hey lets try that one! It's getting opened.

I agree, drink them all! and if you need them full buy a couple 1.75L of JB white and refill them and put them on the shelf...just don't pawn it off to a friend after you do that:slappin: .

[gothbat]

I figure that the longer I let a bottle sit the harder it will be to open if it is one that I don’t think I will be able to replace but it’s reason for sitting there in the first place is to be drank. Some bottles look nicer than others and I like to display the nicer ones so I see them often and when I look at them I always think about breaking the seal and pouring a glass so I can finally taste it. There is one bottle I have that I have reserved for a particular occasion that has yet to happen, I don’t know when it will but when it does I’m breaking the seal and pulling the cork ASAP. As for the others, whenever; I’m really in no rush. Sometimes I’ll use an occasion to open a bottle and sometimes I’ll make a split second decision to open one (sometimes this is the result of the split second invention of an occasion to open one! ). I never regret opening one though.

I can understand both the “just open it already†attitude and the opposite “save it for/until <whatever>†attitude but for me all that really matters is that it gets opened. Admiring it on the shelf for however long is just an added bonus to owning it. The only thing better than having and admiring a rare bottle is opening it.

I will admit, my attitude is mainly driven by selfishness. If the seal on any of my bottles outlasted me then someone else would open them and that's not what I bought them for. Don't get me wrong, I'm not unwilling to share at all. In fact just today I tried to talk my friend who doesn't even like bourbon into tasting two of my favorites (one of which I'm certain I'll never get to buy again) with me because I thought at least one of them, if not both, might possibly change their mind about bourbon.

[ArtL]

I too collect whiskey... so that I can drink it!

Hopefully sooner rather than later. Oh I don't have any long term goals, to open a special bottle at my child's wedding or 21st birthday, who's to say that they will even like whiskey at that point in their life?

I know I wasn't a big fan of it until recently, but one can only hope that, with the proper guidance and encouragement, family and friends will learn to appreciate the delightful nuances of whiskey.

If they don't, and I pass on without drinking some of my prizes, what will become of my bunker? I guess I shouldn't care if I'm not around but I feel that I have an obligation to the excellent people who lovingly put all their efforts into creating our fine drinks to find a proper home for my orphaned whiskey.

How would you feel if your family just tossed your bottles into the trash? As unlikely as that may sound, I'm sure it happens often enough for me to shed a tear just thinking about it.

I imagine that I could bequeath my whiskey to someone that I know would show it the respect that it deserves, "... being of sound mind and body I would like my entire collection of whiskey to go to the fine folks at StraightBourbon.com..." a gesture that would assure my whiskey would be well cared for indeed but why even let get too that point?

People save many things for special occasions that may or may not come, I believe that everyday that you are alive is a special occasion. Celebrate each day with family, friends, good food, great whiskey! So in other words, just drink it baby! :grin:

[DrinkyBanjo]

I only have one bottle, out of many, that I have no plans on opening. That would be my Weller 19 that I found a couple of years ago. I have a lot of great open bottles right now and don't see the need to open that one. I hope to find another and open it but until then it will remain sealed. One day, whether I find a replacement or not, it will be opened.

[bigtoys]

Over the summer there was a warm Saturday night where it stayed around 80 degrees until the wee hours. A couple of my neighbors and I killed one of my Papy 23's and put a good dent in a bottle of Stagg. Well worth it; wish we could have got a few other guys out; I'd have opened Pappy 23 #2 (signed by Julian).